Tons of stunned salmon: environmentalists assessed the consequences of the Nord Stream explosions

Experts: “It’s good that the sea did not catch fire”

A gas leak from the Nord Stream underwater pipes could have dire consequences for the underwater flora and fauna of the Baltic. Russian environmentalists came to such disappointing conclusions. The scale of the disaster is difficult to assess, but it is measured in tons of marine resources.

While economists are calculating the monetary damage from the alleged sabotage, oceanologists and environmentalists are trying to estimate the amount of other losses.

“It is important that this catastrophe is stopped automatically, the valve is closed,” says Inna Toropova, activist of the Baltic Ecology movement. – Therefore, last year’s scenario of the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico, where the underwater gas pipeline was depressurized, did not repeat itself. Then there was a real fire. The chemical reaction of water and gas led to a fire, although it is difficult for a person far from chemistry to believe this. But at least you should believe Chukovsky, who described the fiery sea in one of his poems.

According to the ecologist, as a result of this incident, an ecosystem of 30 square kilometers was damaged. Leaks from Russian pipelines were not so massive, so there was no fire, but scientists recorded several underwater explosions. Let the gas pipelines not work, but they were filled with several tens of millions of cubic meters of fossil gas. The explosions certainly killed the marine fauna, disrupting the ecosystem of the Baltic. Some marine animals were inevitably killed by the gas that did not explode – they simply suffocated in its flows. In addition, we must not forget that methane is a greenhouse gas. When it explodes, it releases a massive amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And even if it does not explode, it dissipates in the air, accelerating global warming.

“The Baltic Sea is rich in sprat, cod, salmon, eel, flounder, perch, squid,” says ecologist Alena Sadovskaya. – But its special wealth is seals and seals. However, there should not have been large marine inhabitants in the area of ​​​​the explosions, and the fish are a very agile tribe. I think many managed to swim away to a safe distance. Marine life was probably much more affected than fauna. Nevertheless, 2-3 tons of stunned fish probably surfaced.

“Of course, the combustion of methane produces fewer harmful substances compared to other types of fuel,” adds Ekaterina Shamaeva, Associate Professor of the Department of Economics and Management at the Fuel and Energy Complex of the State University of Management. – But still, the overall level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases. Poisoning of marine life is also possible, which in fact is the mass destruction of the surrounding biota.

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